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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
ADMINISTRATION General AdministrationâEarly records mention several officers of different grades The Rājasthāniya, who heads the list in the Sunao Kala plates, was probably the highest officer.1 As the term signifies a Viceroy, he may have been in charge of a province Under him were the Uparikas, who administered smaller territorial units like the modern Commissioners’ Divisons. The Vishayapatis corresponded to the modern Collectors or Depty Commissioners and were in charge of Vishayas (districts). Kumārāmātya was a general term denoting officers of different grades. Some of these terms fell into disuse and were supplanted by others in course of time. Uparika nd Kumaramatya do not occur in the later records of the Gurjaras, the Kalachuris and the Chalukyas Rājasthānīya continued for a longer time, as it occurs in the Bagumra plates of Allaśakti2 The new terms which generally replaced Rajasthaniya and Uparika were Rajan and Samantha.3 They administered larger territorial units like the modern province or the commissioner’s Divison. The Vishayapatis continued to be in charge of the districts. Under them were the Bhogikapalakas who probably supervised the work of the Bhogikas.4 The latter were in charge of smaller territorial divisonslike the bhogas, pathakas and gramas. The Navasari plates mention a gramabhogika.5 Other records mention the Rashtrakùta and the Gramakùta who were evidently the heads of a rashtra and a village respectively.6 The sthanalaka, who finds a mention in one record,7 was probably a local officer. Similarly the Drangika was the Mayor of a town.8 Subordinate officers were referred to as ayuktakas and vini yuktakas.9 Later they came to be known as adhikadikas.10
Revenue DepartmentâThe head of this department was probably the Mahapramatri who is mentioned in the later Kalachuri records.11 He surveyed all land and fixed its assessment. The Mahakshapatalika was the head of the Records Department.12 The officer who collected the land revenue was called Dityodgrahaka18 villages and lands granted to the Brahmanas for the maintenance of temples were exempt from ditya or land-tax14 The officer who collected other taxes was known as Vishayadanika.15
There were different sources of state revenue. Udranga and uparikara are generally
mentioned in early inscriptions. They probably correspond to Kiripta and upklripta mentioned in the Vakataka grants, and to bhoga and bhoga of later records.16 Udranga may
have been a land-tax. As for uparikara which seems to signify an additional tax, it may
have included the miscellaneous taxes in kind which traders and artisans had to pay. Besides
these,salt and iron mines, forests, pasture-lands, mango and mahua trees, threshing floors,
fines imposed for offences, etc. were the other sources of revenue.17 Rates were levied
1No. 11, 1.2.
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